Water group seeks to address growth

Providing water for growth could be part of the Monterey Peninsula Regional Water Authority's mission if proposed language is adopted at the panel's meeting on Thursday.

The word "supplemental" has been added to a proposed version of the authority's mission statement, which the panel of six Peninsula mayors is set to consider at 6 p.m. Thursday at Chautauqua Hall in Pacific Grove.

As proposed, the authority's mission statement would read, in part: "The MPRWA exists to promote timely development of supplemental and replacement water projects ... at a reasonable cost to sufficiently meet the water needs of city and county general plans."

The wording suggests the authority could be poised to expand its purview beyond promotion and development of just a replacement water source for the Carmel River, to include capacity for new development, a key issue for business interests and others on the Peninsula.

The wording emerged from an authority ad-hoc committee charged with revising the mission statement after a motion from Pacific Grove Mayor Carmelita Garcia, who requested that the need for water for lots of record and growth be addressed.

Carmel Mayor Sue McCloud, who voted against Garcia's motion but serves on the committee that produced the new wording, declined to comment on whether she supported the change, but said, "The important thing is I think all of the issues have been addressed or are on the table."

McCloud and Monterey Mayor Chuck Della Sala, the authority's chairman, previously said they wouldn't support including water for future growth in its proposed solution, suggesting that could make it more difficult or even impossible to attract broad public backing.

Water activist George Riley, who serves on the authority's Technical Advisory Committee, said the new language makes it clear the authority would be considering growth if it adopts the changes.

Riley said he agrees that lots of record should be part of the discussion, but including that as part of the authority's proposed water solution is "another issue." He said the concern is the ability of the authority to move quickly while changing the focus of the community discussion from replacement to growth.

With the Peninsula facing the spectre of a state-ordered cutback in pumping from the Carmel River that takes full effect by the end of 2016, and further restrictions on use of Seaside basin water five years later, the mayors convened the authority to lend political support for a workable solution after the demise of the regional desalination project.

California American Water is planning to submit an application to the state Public Utilities Commission for an alternative water supply project by April 23.

Two other desal proposals, the People's Moss Landing Desal Project and DeepWater Desal, are seeking support.

All of the proposals would be fully vetted by the Technical Advisory Committee, which meets Thursday, if a proposed work schedule set for committee consideration is adopted by the authority.

The work schedule includes reviewing proposed projects and addressing a series of related issues, such as desal options, the size of the project, technical analysis, outreach to regulatory agencies and funding.